Metal furniture and method of making same



2' Sheets-Sheet 1 170621"! Bradshaw y R BRADSHAW Filed Oct. 18. 1922 METAL FURNITURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAIE April 23, 1929.

Ap l .1929; R. BRADSHAW ,7 0,

METAL FURNITURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SA"! Filed on. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .A W W Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

RICHARD BRADSHAW], O YMDNTREAL, .EBEC, CANADA.

lVIll'IAL FURNITURE AND METEEUD 0]. Td'AKIlIG SAME.

Application filed October 18, 1922. seria No. 595,850.

This invention relates generally to metal furniture and to the method or process oi making same, and more particularly to metal beds and the manufacture thereot.

Metal beds produced in late. years have been largely ot the 01 )en "(ramc or skeleton" typo an d comparatively plain in design; that is to say, the head and foot frames have comprised posts, top and bottom rails extending between the posts and fillers disposed between the rails. Such a type oi bed is seriously limited as to the variety ol" designs that can be adopted. The variation olidcsign has been produced by using tubes of various cross sectional shapes, for example, tubes square,

oblong or elliptical in cross section, and also by variations in the number and arrangement of the rails and fillers. In short, the design otpresent day metal beds is practically limi ted, for various manufacturingand economic reasons, to the designs at present in vogue. This limitation has heretofore prohibited the production of metal beds in the solid or panelled designs or in designs well known in wooden furniture construction, such, for example, as the Jacobean designs.

The present invention aims to provide for the manufacture of metal furniture in any of the designs in which wooden furniture can be produced and at a cost materially below. that of wooden furniture, at the same time maintaining the advantages of modern metal furniture, namely, strength, durability, light-- ness, and absence from crevices in which vermin may lodge. Any departure from the present designs of metal furniture, particularly beds, necessitates the use oi": panels or ornaments of various types or both. Small panels may be inserted between the fillers and rails of existing designs but large panels are appan cntly prohibitive on account of thetendency Furthermore,

of thin sheet metal to rattle. the application of such panels adds materiallyto the cost of the article. Furthermore, ornamental posts,rails and fillers which vary in size from end to end or in cross sectional shape are, practically speaking, not available on account of the cost of making; them and the di'liiculty of assembling the parts atter made. According all. descriptions, either plain or ornamented to reproduce carving, and also ornamental posts, rails and fillers may be produced very cheapimperviousness to atomspheric changes to this invention panels (ill I panels with stiles and rails between, or

ly and assembled with comparative ease so M1,. .2

as reproduce metal replicas ol, standard u ood .iurnltuie dos is. The manner ol' con structlon is such that any tendency to rattle is entirely eliminated and at the same time strength, durability and simplicity of manufacture are not sacrificed. I V I The invention resides, broadly speaking. in employing sheets of stamped or embossed metal which are assembled, usually in pairs, into a frame to constitute panels. These panels may occupy the spaces between existlng'fillers or may completely fill the frame. In the case of large panels whichwould tend, on account of the flexibility or the sheet metal. to rattle and thus bet-ray the nature of the material, the embossing may be of a nature to provide stiles, rails or the like integral with the panels and which will so stifi'en thc sheets of metal that rattling will be entirely avoided. in assembling such sheets in pairs to form panels, suitable stifleningmcmbers may be disposed between the sheets forming each panel, the said stiffening members bcinig; either separate from or connected directly to the supporting frame. It will also be understoodthat the'sheets may be embossed in such a manner as to completely enclose and conceal the actual frame. On the other hand, where the material used is sufficiently still or is sufliciently stiffened by the embossing, internal supporting members may be omitted even to the exclusion olf an interior supporting frame. The panels, as previously stated, are each formed of two sheets where both sides of a pannel are visible, as for instance,

in the case of bed ends. This is for the double purpose of concealing; the convexity of the embossing on what maybe termed the back of a sheet and for thepunpose oft concealing stilleningr members it the same are used. The sheets forming a panel may be both embossed or one may be plain. The mare nor of connecting the sheets may vary maftcrially. The sheets may be connected together in any suitable way previous to assembly to a frame or the sheets may be separate and hold together by a frame, or the sheets may be initially separate and individually connected .to a tramo during or alter assembly. The sheets in any suitable manner to represent plain I raised panels with or 'WlthOLltStlleS and fillers, or

may be embossed P TENT oFFIcEf J carved with or Without stiles and fillers. In

addition to the embossing the panels may be perrorated to represent Woven cane or any suitable form oi grille work. In addition,

erforated Janels niahave inte 'ral unoer forated portions embossed ornot to ropres sent carved or other medallions applied to Woven cane tor example. The sheets may 7 be surface coated in Whole or in parteitlzcr bed end proa sure .1 showi'nga bed end in which the frame is completely filled by panels. 7

Fig. 4: 1s asectlonazl viewsnmrar to nigure 2 on the l1ne4-4, Figure 3.

Fig. is an end elevation of a bed end shouangthe panels entirely conceal ng a supporting frame- Fig. 6 is a; fragmentiu'y sectional View on the line 6-6, Figure 5. V i

Fig; 7 a sectional View showing one method of joining the sheets.

.Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views"illustrating different forms embossed sheets.

' Fig. IO'is a fragmen ary View illustrating a detail: of construction.-

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 21 designates the posts, 22 the top rail and '23 the bottom rail constituting a frame, for example, for abed end. Fillers 2e are secured between the "top and'bottomrails. A panel, designated as a Whole by the numeral 25, is carried bv' the frame between adjacent fillers 24 and may be formedin a.

great variety of Ways; Y

The panel shown in Figure 1 comprises front and back sheets 26 and 9.7 respectively either or both of'which may be embossed to provide raised portions 28, as shown for e):-'. ample on the front sheet 26.. The embossing;

may take any desired form and is not limited to the small raised panel illustrated. The embossing stifiens the sheet as will be readily understood, so that the same is substantially rigid under ordinary pressure andisentirely tree from the rattling which is inhe ent to large sheets 0t comparatively thln metal.

l The back sheet 2'7 may be embossed or may be plain as illustrated. If desired one or more spacers 29 may be provided between the sheets and connected to one or bothof them by any suitable means, such as electric spot'welding. This stiffener. Where its use is necessary, serves to hold the central part of a comparatively large panel against buckling. The stifi'ener may end short ofthe frame members as indicated in Figure 1, or may extend to the be ass .me members as indicated in Figure 3. ieots forming the panel may be coir together in any suitable Way, for ex- "heir edges may be let into any or all fliers or to 1 d bottom rails so that the sheets are held herby these members J a to;

in addition to being supported in position. The sheets may also be connected together at their ed it any other suitable points, for example b iietir seaming Welding, so as to term a panda i ich may be 1 handled as a unit for insertion in frame. It will also be understood that the sheets may be individually c nnected to the frame members or fillers or all of them by Welding or by mould or by any other suitable means.

in l igur s 3 and i there is illustrated sailicicnt size to fill the entire embossino 01 the sheets form- 't portions 30 ma be provided, which on tnc laclrs of the sheets will form recesses for "he reception of fillers 2% or stiileners the difference being only that ing this panel 0 the term filler is LllGCl to warts connected q. 1 J 1 I l w directly t0 tne lrame, While the term silhrectly to the frame. The embossing may include theproyisi'on moulding 31 at the edges of the sheets; Winch moulding will greatly stiffen the sheets at the periphery, While the central portion will be stillened by the oils 80. The sheets thus formed may sis-led into a panel either separately from the frame or by the act of assemblage in the frame by any of the methods described in connection withlligijure 1. Alternatively, the edges of which are in abutting relation when. the sheets are assembledto form itWUIel, maybe welded together so as to produce a unitar panel which may be inserted in' the frame either with or without contained, stiffener-s. If the frame contains fillers the sheets of the panel'may be brought together on opposite sid s of the fillers so as to con'iplete cncase ti o same. In such a onstruction the panel, in addition to being cured to the frame, may be secured to the fillers, for example by Welding.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a more elaborate form in Which the frame is entirely encased in and. concealed by the embossed in this construction the frame, which for insertion in frames or to encase frames in par This modification resides in the provision of peripheral liangj- 32 on the sheets designed for telescopic engagement. Preferably the flanges are in Whole or load carrying element, may be of formed to [it ery tightly together so that the panel formed will be tree from rattling.

and also so that the exposededgewill be as nearly invisible as possible. Sheets thus 'loru'iod may be connected together by spot welding the flanges or in any other suitable way. it the edge is exposed as in the case of sheets which. encase a framework, the edge may be ground oil in thelinish'ing so as to be entirely invisible. In. such an'instance it is advisable that the u'el'din braziiu: or other means oi connection be cllected at the extreme edge andthroughout the whole length thereof, so that alter grinding or otherwise finishing there will be no visible seam and no crevice of any description.

In Figure '8 there is illustrated a perforated sheet The perforations may be made to represent woven cane as illustrated and the sheet may ii desired be additionally embossed in order to increase the similitude of the material represented. Such asheet may include an unpertorated portion 33 which may be embossed to stand. out in reliet from the sheet so as to represent a plaque or medallion attached to the caning or grille work. This portion may have a smooth 4)?) surtl'iace for decoration or may be in itself embossed to provide an ornamental design lu Figure 9 there is illustrated a panel 7 sheet 25, part perforated and part unperiterated. and having; the o'l' set portimis SO separating the perforated and unperiorated portions and giving the appearance of stiles separating di'l'lerent types o'l panels. l hile each panel preferably comprises front and back sheets, it will be understood that the back sheet is not always an absolute necessity in the case of perforated panels, or that the back sheet may be applied. only to the unpertorated portion. oft sheets, that is to say, to the bacli oi? the medallion Biland to the back oi the solid centre panel of? llimu'e 9. ()bviously, however, two perforated sheets may be as-isembled together. proper care being; necessarily exercised to secure proper reef titration oi? the openings therein.

The constructioi s illustrated. in Figures 1 to 9 contemplate the use of comparatively thin sheets which, even With the embossing, would not have sullicient strength to render them available as load carrying elements, For example in a bed end. It will be understood, however. thatiin the case oi? a construction such as illustrated in Figure it will be possible to, eliminate the interior frame if the material of the en'ibossed sheets is sullicicntly heavy. It will also be understood that in many cases a solid frame throughout the structure ui'mecessary. For example, in bed construction the only part of the framework actually under load is that extending; from the side rail supports downwardly and that the remainder of the frame elements it is pos- .lfrom the foregoing oescrrption it will be seen that the panels herein cont-eniiplated are designed for insertion in an exposed. frame to fill (he whole or a part ol lhe frame or for the enclosure of the "frame. I

The use of such stamped sheets enables an inlinite variety of designs to be obtained in the manufacture of metal furniture. Only a certain scope is possible in the variation of design employed in existing methods owing to the cost of producing); the more elaborate designs and to the limitations imposed by the nature oil the elements thentiselves, i. e., thetub ular members employed. lVhile more elabo-' rate 'irame designs than that shown in Figure 1 iior example may be produced, such elaboration entails the manufacture of a large number oi separate ornamental parts which are themselves expensive. The cost of assembl.ing these parts is "very considerable, with the result that a detinitelimit is soon reached beyond which it is not practicable to go. According to the present invention ornamentation may be produced in any degree or the number of parts in the structure or n'iaterially increasing; the cost. In fact, in a great many instances the number oi? parts in a structure is greatly decreased according to the present invention as compa red with the production oil. a similar structure by existing metl'iods. Moreover, the use of stamped sheets in the manner described enables many designs to be produced in metal it'urnitiure, which designs were heretofore lll'lPOSSlblG of produc tionin metal.

It will be understood that the invention is not in any way limited to the details of construction herein disclosed and may include many .n'ioditicationso'li term and of methods,

'itor example, the use of fillings between the be understood that this is not essential and that the invention contemplates the assembly offront andback sheets of dlfierentsizes, for example, aplain back sheet of a SlZQ'tO fill the space between frame members and a smaller embossed t'ront sheet attached in any suitable way to the back sheet, or conversely a i'rontsheet embossed in part and a smaller )lainback sheet covering only the embossed portion and either set flush in the back of the front sheet or projecting therebeyond to give a plain raised panel effect. Obviouslya sheet may be embossed to represent fillers or other I frame members'and be otherwise plain and have attached thereto between the embossed portionsseparate embossed sheets;

Having; thus described my invention, what I clann 1s p 1.. In metal bed end construction, a f mile to stand on a floor and a pairof metal sheetsernbossed to provide on their backs channels for reception of the'frainemembers, the said sheets being disposed on opposite sides of the frame and connected together to C0111- pletely enclosethe frame.

2. In metal bed end construction, a sheet embossed to represent bed frame and fillers, a second sheet, said sheets being flangedand telescopically assembled to one another, and a framework adapted to stand supporting the same.

3. In metal bed end construction, a pair of metal sheets connected to ether attheir edges to form. a hollow body, and a framework posts, rails 40 on a floor contained between the sheets and adapted toextend' to and rest upon a floor dis-l posed Within said hollow body and supportin: the same; V

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. RICHARD Breiinstnu 

